Odisha Govt Calls for More Cooperation Among Handloom Sector Stakeholders

The Odisha government has called for greater convergence and collaborative efforts among stakeholders in the handloom sector to address the industry's challenges, officials said on Sunday. Odisha Development Commissioner Pradeep Jena stated that resolving issues related to "drudgery and lack of marketing" can ensure the sector's progressive growth.

Jena was speaking at a National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) event in Bhubaneswar to commemorate National Handloom Day.

"All stakeholders must work together to address the challenges confronting the handloom sector," he said.

Odisha, with its rich cultural heritage in art and crafts, has enormous potential for expanding the scope and quality of its handloom and textile products, according to a NABARD release. According to the release, it has been sponsoring exhibitions and assisting in the establishment of rural marts for better marketing of handloom products, as well as encouraging skill development.

NABARD has also begun the process of registering Odisha's handloom products, such as the 'phuta sari,' for geographical indication.

A handloom is a loom that is operated manually rather than by a power loom. The vision of India to introduce the handloom business to the global market demonstrates our dominance in international trade.

Wearing handloom clothing with its unique design makes an individual's appearance very distinct and indigenous.

As a result, the purpose of this day is to honour India's handloom weaving community and to shed light on the handloom industry for the nation's socioeconomic well-being. Every year on August 7, National Handloom Day is observed to commemorate the importance of India's handloom weaving community. The day was first observed by the Central Government in 2015.